When you think about hearing aids, intimacy most likely isn’t the first thing you think about. We understand. The advertising on these little devices is relatively straightforward. Less defined expressions like poetry, music, and art are more suited to the subject of love.
And yet, the two are closely linked to the point where you may want to begin thinking of your hearing aid as an intimacy device. After all, the social separation that comes from untreated hearing loss can also mean isolation from your partner. That means it isn’t just talking with the cashier at the grocery store that becomes more challenging, it’s also maintaining your most important and intimate relationships.
Hearing loss doesn’t inevitably mean you can’t enjoy wonderful relationships and deep emotional connections. It’s just that doing so takes specialized care and well-practiced adjustments. If you’ve been losing your hearing slowly and over time, you most likely haven’t matured those additional skills, as a result, your relationships could suffer.
True intimacy, though, and improved personal relationships can come from something as basic as using a hearing aid. Here are just a few ways that hearing aids might have a positive affect on your love life.
Improved communication
It’s no secret that healthy relationships require good communication (although, it is sometimes harder to practice than it is to preach). Everyone will feel more appreciated and valued with good communication permitting stronger emotional connections and minimizing arguments.
But hearing loss can intensify regular communication obstacles in the process making a challenging task much harder.
Here’s how a hearing aid will be most beneficial:
- You’ll have more energy for communication.When you experience hearing loss, speaking and listening can take a lot of energy, leaving you feeling drained. Conversations can once again be fun and invigorating.
- The softer, whispered moments won’t get lost. To put it directly, there’s no yelling in pillow talk. You and your partner will enjoy those hushed quiet experiences with hearing aids.
Your partner won’t have to be your translator
Going out with friends won’t be all that enjoyable when your partner spends most of their time repeating everybody for your benefit. But if you are unable to hear what’s going on all night, that won’t be very enjoyable either. It’s not hard to imagine the kind of resentment this might cause.
A hearing aid can help protect your independence. Your partner won’t need to order your food at a restaurant or be your translator when you’re at a dinner party. And going out alone to socialize will also be easier. This means you’ll have adventures and stories that you can bring back to your partner, enriching your relationship in the process.
You’ll be more receptive to your partner’s needs
Your partner’s life will be so much easier in so many ways if you can hear clearly. Perhaps you jump up and help with dinner because your hearing aids let you hear the cook timer ring. Or perhaps you ask your partner if they’re ok when you hear them stumble on the floor. When you hear your partner grumbling under their breath, you have an opportunity to ask what’s the matter.
These might sound small and perhaps even insignificant. But these little gestures, taken together, will show your partner that you’re compassionate and committed. They demonstrate your level of care. And that will make you a quality partner. A hearing aid makes that a lot easier to achieve because you’ll recognize those sometimes subtle audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
You might have a difficult time hearing those breathy whispers shared during intimate moments when you have hearing loss, especially if it has progressed so slowly you didn’t even notice. And let’s be truthful, those hushed sounds are part of the fun of romance. A hearing aid will allow you to enjoy the power of a whisper again. Which means you’ll be able to enjoy the closeness of your partnership in a more powerful way.
Helping Your Relationship
Every problem with your relationship won’t be fixed using a hearing aid, clearly. Nor is it impossible to experience intimacy with hearing loss. The point here is that a hearing aid will make certain aspects of your love life more pleasurable and more enriching.
So if your relationship is a little… dicey… and you’re struggling to find a cause, it may be that your hearing loss is inhibiting your connections. Schedule an appointment with us, a hearing aid could bring back welcome intimacy to your love life.